application performance monitoring

Understanding The Importance of Application Performance Monitoring

If you haven’t heard about Application Performance Monitoring yet then you need to skim over this post.

Things are changing drastically in the way information technology departments in organizations are working today. In the olden days, monitoring of server infrastructure was enough to ensure smooth performance. However, today many organizations rely on multiple applications that are custom-coded and bespoke rendering the old way of application and system monitoring null.

Here’s what you should know about APM.

The Rise of Application Performance Monitoring

Application performance monitoring solutions have emerged because of the need for applications that can handle today’s business environment as well as improve how developers monitor application issues. APM offers greater insights on the performance of all applications for the employees as well as the clients.

Over the years, it has replaced the traditional information technology services and become a critical part of ensuring that core business applications are up and running as expected. APM is a solution that every company requires to run its business effectively.

The Difference Between APM and Traditional Service Monitoring

Among the things you can consider when talking about the traditional information technology service monitoring and today’s application performance monitoring, are the depth and breadth of APM infrastructure.

  • Breadth and Traditional Service Monitoring

When you consider the activities that are done by standard information technology monitoring, they include performances such as the capacity of the database, response time and availability of network among others. It is a kind of monitoring that lets the user know how collectively the services are performing. It can be called a broad approach where if there is a slowdown of the network, every other activity and users of the system will be affected. Whatever, you would have found a solution here.

  • Depth and Application Performance Monitoring

APM is essential as it gives the users the opportunity to look deeper into the performance of a particular application. Let’s look at an example of a travel agent who enables passengers to make bookings using a ticketing application that is custom-written. It would be on the server giving you information about how long customers are taking to go through.

Why is APM Important?

APM helps report any performance issues within IT systems and applications and the rate of response to user queries. It can also give you the information about potential performance issues with the codes. With all that information provided to you by APM, you can easily mobilize your IT team to fix any problem that is reported.

If they are integrated, APM and traditional monitoring give you the information that you need to know when it comes to the performance of your applications. Regular monitoring lets you know if the foundation you built is functioning well while APM offers an assurance that your entire IT and application infrastructure is running smoothly. You cannot do without APM if you decide to hire application developers.

Does Every Organization Need APM?

application performance monitoring saas

Almost every organization that relies on applications to run operations need APM. Businesses that use SaaS that is installed locally, apps that are cloud-based and off-the-shelf apps need to constantly monitor how their applications are performing. APM can be used by an organization in the following instances:

  • If the organization uses IT application solutions that they developed from scratch
  • If the organization has multiple applications that continuously interact with other IT solutions
  • If your IT applications are a main generator of revenue
  • If you rely on IT teams for your organization to support your applications

The Bottom Line

There are many good reasons why you should get APM for your company. Utilizing the capabilities that application performance monitoring tools offer helps improve user experience, avoid downtime and achieve your business goals.